Handrail structure



March 8, 1966 L. BLUM ETAL HANDRAIL STRUCTURE Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS March 8, 1966 BLUM ETAL 3,239,196

HANDRAIL STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. JB- 6 50 INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,239,196 HANDRAIL STRUCTURE Louis Blum and William J. Horgan, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa., asfsignors to Blumcraft of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., a rm Filed Dec. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 330,384 2 Claims. (Cl. 256--67) This invention relates generally to handrail structures and particularly to improvements in the type of handrail structure wherein the handrails and posts are disposed in a common line.

An important object of theinvention is to provide such a handrail structure wherein each handrail may be affixed to a post at a selected height.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent whenthe following description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a handrail structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the handrail shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a connector member;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the connector member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the means I for connecting the intermediate handrail to the post;

FIG. 6 is a section on line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevation of a modified handrail structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a modified connector member;

FIG. 10 is a top view of a component part of the connector member;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a part of the connector member shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an end view of a filler strip.

The following description is directed to the specific form of the invention described in the specification and is not addressed to the scope of the invention, which may be practiced in a variety of forms.

Referring particularly to FIGS. l to 7 and 12, the exemplary handrail constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a post, generally designated 10, which is solid and generally oval in transverse section. The post has front and rear arcuate surfaces 12 and opposite side arcuate surfaces 14. Aixed to a lower end portion of the post is a base flange 16 for use in anchoring the post in position.

Mounted upon the post 10 is an intermediate handrail, generally designated 18, comprising a short section 20 and two comparatively long sections 22. Also mounted upon the post is a top handrail, generally designated 24. Referring particularly to FIG. 7, the sections 20 and 22 of the intermediate handrail 18, and the top rail 24 are made of bar stock material uniform in transverse section. The bar stock has an upper arcuate surface 28 and opposite side arcuate surfaces 30. The undersurface of the stock is provided with a longitudinally extending recess 32 having a base wall 34 and opposite side walls 36. On each side of the recess at the juncture of the base wall 34 and the side wall 36 is a longitudinally extending groove 38. On opposite sides of the recess 32 are arcuate undersurfaces 40.

A portion of the short section 20 intermediate the ends thereof is provided with a transversely extending opening 42 corresponding in shape and size to the shape and size of the post 10 in transverse section. Extending into one end of the short section 20 and communicating with the opening 42 is a bore 44 which is counterbored, as at 46.

ice

At each end of the short section 20 is a bar or tongue 48, one end of which is projected into the recess 32. The undersurfaces of the bars 48 are arcuate in shape, as at 50,- and merge smoothly with the undersurfaces 40 of the handrail. The bars 48 are welded, as at 52, to the short -section 20. The free ends of the bars are provided with bores 54 which are countersunk, as at 56. Projected freely through the bore 44 is a screw 58 threaded into the body of the post 10 and disposed with its head nested in the counterbore 46. Projected freely through the bores 54 are screws 62 threaded into the handrail sections 22 and disposed with their heads nested in the countersunk bore portions 56.

Fitted into the recesses 32 to close the lengths thereof which are not occupied by the bars 48 are ller strips, generally designated 60. The filler strips are generally U-shaped in transverse section, being provided with a base wall 62 and opposite side walls 64. Extending along the top of each side wall 64 is a bead 66. The undersurface of the base wall 62 is arcuate in shape, as at 68, and merges smoothly with the undersurfaces 40 of the handrail.

At the top of the post is mounted a T-shaped member, generally designated 70. The stem part 72 of the member 70 is provided with a reduced diameter upper terminal portion-74 at the base of which are formed a pair of shoulders 76. Extending axially through the stem part 72 is a bore 78 which is countersunk, as at 80. Extending freely through the bore 78 and threaded into the top ofthe post is a screw 82 having a countersunk head nested in the countersunk bore portion 80. The member 70 is also provided with a head part or bar 84 intermediate the ends -of which is formed an opening 86 by means of which the bar is tted over the reduced diameter terminal portion 74 of the stem part 72. The bar 84 is seated upon the shoulders 76 and welded to the stem part 72, as at 88. The bar 84 is provided with bores 98 which are countersunk, as at 92, and extending freely through the bores 90 are screws 94 disposed with their heads nested in the countersunk bore portions 92. Fitted into the lengths of the recesses 32 not -occupied by the bar 84 are filler strips 96 made of the same stock material as the ller strips 60.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 8 to l2, it will be noted that the handrails of the modified exemplary handrail structure are disposed at an acute angle relative to the post, in consequence of which the opening in the short section 20a through which the post 10a passes is disposed at an acute angle relative to the axis of the intermediate handrail 18a, and the screw 58a is disposed at an acute angle relative to the axis of the intermediate handrail 18a. Otherwise, the short section 20a of the intermediate hand rail 18a and the associated bars 48a are similar to the short section 20 and bars 48 described hereinabove.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 9, 10 and l1, the shoulders 76a and the upper terminal surface of the stem part 72a of the T-shaped member 70a are parallel and disposed at an acute angle relative to the axis of the stem part. In order to provide a suitable seat for the head of the bolt 82a, the upper end of the stem part 72a is spot faced, as at 98. It is believed to be unnecessary for a clear understanding of the invention to provide any further details with respect to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to l2.

Referring again to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. l to 7 and 12, in erecting the handrail structure the post 10 is first anchored, in any suitable manner, in position with the top of the post as nearly as possible at the desired predetermined elevation. The short section 20 is then fitted over the top of the post and lowered to the desired position, whereupon the screw 58 is threaded in to secure the section. It will be noted that the short sections 20 may be accurately aligned before tapping the posts 10 for the bolts 58. The sections 22 of the intermediate handrail are now lowered over the bars or tongues 48 and secured thereto by means of screws 62. Now the T-shaped members 70 are secured in position by means of bolts 82. In spite of all eiforts to erect the posts with their tops at the desired elevation, irregularities will occur. In this event, washers (not shown) corresponding in shape and size to the transverse section of the post may be employed as required under the stem parts 72 in order to suitably position the stem parts. Thereupon, the handrail section 24 is lowered over the bar 84 and secured by means of screws 94. Then the filler strips 60 and 96 are inserted in the recesses 32, the beads 66 being snapped into the grooves 38.

What is claimed is:

1. A handrail structure comprising:

a handrail post;

a pair of railing members carried by said post, said railing members each having a longitudinal recess in the underside thereof;

a railing connector connecting said railing members together and forming a continuous railing on said post, said connector comprising:

a central section having the same shape as said railing members with a vertical opening therethrough of the same shape as said post and having a screw-receiving opening therein extending longitudinally from one side thereof into said vertical opening,

a pair of tongues extending longitudinally from opposite ends of the central section, itted within the longitudinal recess of each of the railing members respectively and forming the underside thereof, said screw-receiving opening entering said central section at a point above at least one of said tongues, and

a screw in the screw-receiving opening in the central section connecting it to the post; and

screw means passing through each of said tongues and into the underside of said railing members, rigidly fixing the railing members to the connector so that the screw-receiving opening in the central section of the connector and the screw therein are covered by the ends of the railing members adjacent thereto.

2. A handrail structure comprising:

a handrail post;

a railing member carried by said post having a longitudinal recess in the underside thereof;

a railing connector connecting the railing member to the top of said post, comprising:

a bar fitted within the longitudinal recess of railing member and forming the underside thereof, said bar having spaced screw-receiving openings and also having a centrally disposed circular opening,

a T-shaped member having a vertical stem passing upward through the central opening in said bar and a head portion rigidly connected to the underside of said bar and conforming in shape to the cross-section of said post, said stem portion having a counter-sunk bore extending therethrough, and

a threaded screw within the counter-sunk bore of the stem of said T-shaped member and extending into said post, rigidly connecting the connector to the top of the post; and

threaded screw means passing through the spaced openings in said bar rigidly xing the connector to said railing member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 381,289 4/1888 Stephens 256-21 448,029 3/1891 Hanika 256-65 638,434 12/1899 Woodman 256-24 X 1,656,024 1/1928 Stewart 256-65 1,840,048 1/1932 Michelman 256-65 2,242,427 5/1941 Heanue 256-65 2,654,579 10/1953 Cremens 256-65 v2,848,258 8/1958 Mudd 287-54 2,904,314 9/1959 Thom 256-21 3,021,115 2/1962 Dake 256--65 3,076,636 2/1963 Blum 287-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,365 5/ 1937 Great Britain. 545,887 6/1942 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. CHARLES E. oCoNNExLL, Examiner. D. L. TAYLOR, Assiszmz Examiner. 

1. A HANDRAIL STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A HANDRAIL POST; A PAIR OF RAILING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID POST, SAID RAILING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID POST, SAID THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF; A RAILING CONNECTOR CONNECTING SAID RAILING MEMBERS TOGETHER AND FORMING A CONTINUOUS RAILING ON SAID POST, SAID CONNECTOR COMPRISING: A CENTRAL SECTION HAVING THE SAME SHAPE AS SAID RAILING MEMBERS WITH A VERTICAL OPENING THERETHROUGH OF THE SAME SHAPE AS SAID POST AND HAVING A SCREW-RECEIVING OPENING THEREIN EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF INTO SAID VERTICAL OPENING, A PAIR OF TONGUES EXTENDING LONTUDINALLY FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CENTRAL SECTION, FITTED WITHIN THE LONGITUDINAL RECESS OF EACH OF THE RAILING MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY AND FORMING THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF, SAID SCREW-RECEIVING OPENING ENTERING SAID CENTRAL SECTION AT A POINT ABOVE AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TONGUES, AND A SCREW IN THE SCREW-RECEIVING OPENING IN THE CENTRAL SECTION CONNECTING IT TO THE POST; AND SCREW MEANS PASSING THROUGH EACH OF SAID TONGUES AND INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID RAILING MEMBERS, RIGIDLY FIXING THE RAILING MEMBERS TO THE CONNECTOR SO THAT THE SCREW-RECEIVING OPENING IN THE CENTRAL SECTION OF THE CONNECTOR AND THE SCREW THEREIN ARE COVERED BY THE ENDS OF THE RAILING MEMBERS ADJACENT THERETO. 